Sewing machine



April 2l, 1942. v J. G. GERBER 280,289

` SEWING MACHINE Filled July 18, 1940l 3 sheets-sheet 5 %g ATTORNE?.

Pafemed Apr. 21, 1942 l SEWING `MACHINE John G. Gerber, Rochester, N.V Y., assignor to E. P. Reed & Co., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation ofl New York Appiicauon July 1s, 1940, serial No. 346,078

` 14 claims. (C1. 11a- 158) This inventionrelates to a sewing" machine, with particular reference to the ty-pe of machine employed formaking a zigzag stitch, and has for its objectto afford la `mechanism .by which` 1.a Zig zag line of stitching can be quickly and easily locked at its ends to prevent raveling. l

Zigzag stitching is frequently employed in the manufacture of. shoes in securing together different parts which enter into fa shoe assembly, and since considerable time 4and expense are involved in tying the loose ends of such `stitches which must be `done by hand,` it is a purpose of the invention toprovide a machine that will secure such zigzag `stitching against raveling and thus avoid the necessity of hand-tying the loose ends. l

`In general, theinvention comprises structure by which a zigzag stitch machine can be instantly converted into a straight-line stitch machine, thusenabling the operator by a quick :adjustment to change a straight-line stitch to a zigzag stitch, or` vice versa, so that any-given length of zigzag stitching can be terminated at its ends in straight-line stitching which locks the threads,

and they do not have to be hand-tied. 1

f In Ia more particular aspect, the invention ha for its object to afford la structure in which `the operating member that conventionally moves the needle bar frame back and forth for a zigzag stitch can be quickly connected with or disconnected from the needle bar frame at will, by a manually controlled disconnector that is movable to shift instantlythe operating member out of engagement with the needle bar'framefor a straight-line stitch and to hold it in such position until itl is desired to resume the zigzag stitching, it being understood that the machine operates continuously While the operator, by

merely changing the position of the disconnector,

selects the character of stitch desired.

Another purpose of the invention is to afford an adjustable `device that enables the operator parts thatwill appear clearly from the `following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the novel features being ,pointed out in the claims following the specication." l

In the drawings: i

`"Fig 1 is a view in front elevation showing 4a conventional type of zigzag stitch sewing machine equipped with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in front elevation, -partially in section, showing the position of the parts with the operating member connected to the `needlebar frame andthe latter shifted to its extreme left-hand position;

Fig. 3 is asimilar view, partially broken away,

f showing the position ofthe parts when the opto position thestraight-line stitching at either edge of the zigzag stitching, as may be desired.

In detail, the invention includes a -connector mounted on the reciprocatory operating member and shiftable into or out of engagement with an interlocking portion on the needle bar frame,

being held normally` in engagement therewith and shiftable out of engagement by means of a disconnector or control member that is manipulated by the operator ,and is maintained frictionally in 'any position to which it is adjusted.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the Iconstruction and arrangement of erating member `is dis-connected from the needle bar frame to `permit straight-line stitching, and the needle bar frame stationary in its extreme right-hand position;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 isa detail sectional View on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation of the free end of the operating member and the connector carried thereby;

. Fig. `'l is a plan view of the same;

Fig. `8 is a perspective view of the disconnector;

Fig. 9 isa view illustrating zigzag stitching terminating' in straight-line stitching, as resulting from the .position of the parts shown in Fig. 3, and

Fig. 10 is a similar View showing the relative position of the straight-line stitching to the zigzag stitching when `the adjustable member is shifted to itsother position on the connector to change the position'of the kneedle bar frame when stationary.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in the base, 2 the vertical stan-dard, and 3 the supporting arm `of a 1conventional type of sewing machine which includes a needle bar 4 operated from a crank shaft 5, and mounted in a bearing 6 -forming part'of a needle bar frame 1 which is` pivotedV at B to swing back and forth in a generally horizontal direction and move the needle bar to two different vertical positions for effecting the usual zigzag stitch. The needle bar frame 'l at its lower end carries a lateral extension or arm 9` which is slottedat IU and guided on a fixed post Il, see Fig. 4. A` fixed guide plate l2 is supis held in guiding `position by a spring I4.

The construction of the parts thus far described is not new, and the present invention has to do with mechanism that is positionable either to effeet movement of the needle bar frame back and forth, or to permit it to remain stationary while the needle 'oar is reciprocating, to obtain either a zigzag or a straight-line stitch, and the parts by which this result is attained will now be described,

The needle bar frame is adapted to be oscillated by an operating member which may consist of a connecting rod I3 that is reciprocated by an eccentric Il, rotated from the drive shaft of the machine as usual, and the operating member carries parts that enable it to be operatively connected to the needle bar frame when shifted to one position and to be disconnected therefrom when shifted to another position.

In order to accomplish this, the operating member I6, which has a depending portion I8 at its free end, has mounted upon said .depending yportion IS a connector, see Figs. 6 and 7, thatincludes a side plate I9 located adjacent t'o the front surface of the depending portion I8 and attached thereto by a suitable pin 2E) and bolt 2I. 22 designates the upper portion of the con-l nector attached to or carried by the side plate I9 and overlying the free end of the operating member, while 23 designates a pocket or recess formed in the upper portion 22 of the connector, said recess 33 functioning to establish engagement or operative relation with the needle bar frame when the operating member I6 is shifted to its uppermost position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The top surface 23a of the upper portion 22 of the connector is preferably at, as shown in Fig. 6, permitting it to ride against the disconnector, to be described presently, when the operating member is in its disengaged position, as in Fig. 3. The needle bar frame is provided with an interlocking portion, preferably in the form of a pin 24, mounted on the lateral extension or arm 9, see Fig. 3, and arranged to be embracedy by the recess 23 when the operating member is adjusted to its uppermost position as in Figs. 1 and 2, whereby the reciprocatory movement of the operating member is transmitted to the needie bar frame to attain a zigzag stitch, such as shown in Figs. 9 and l0. The operating member and connector carried thereby are held in. such uppermost position normally by a spring 25- that is connected at one end to the bolt 2| and at its opposite end to a lug 25 on the bracket 2l that is suitably attached to the arm 3 of the machine. v

In order to disconnect the operating member from the needle bar frame, suitable means are provided for shifting the free end of the operating member downwardly to the position illustrated in Fig. 3, in which case the operating member and connector can move back and forth while the needle bar frame remains'stationary.

This is accomplished in thepresent embodimentrby a disconnector consisting of a plate 28 that is pivotally mounted `on a stationary support 29, and adapted-to be moved by the operator to shift the operating member and disconnect it from the needle bar frame. The disconnector l23, which together with the support 29 arein `front of 'Athe'xoperating member I5, includes a forwardly` extending flange 3|' constituting a nger-engaging and operating portion, and a rearwardly extending finger 32 that overlies the connector, so that when the finger portion .'-EI is elevated to swing the disconnector anti-clockwise about its axis, the nger 32 is depressed and moves the free end of the operating member, and the conductor carried thereby, downwardiy to the position illustrated in Fig. 3, such downward movement being limited by a stop 33 that is adjustable vertically on a depending portion 34 of the stationary support 29.

It is desirable that the disconnector be held frictionally in the position to which it is adjusted and thus retain the operating member in its lowerrnost position, and to this end, the disconnector 25 is pivotally supported on a post 35 carried by the support 29, The disconnector 28 is preferably located adjacent to a washer plate 35, while 3l is a spring abutting the disconnector 28 and heldin contact therewith by a nut 38 that is adjustableon the post 35 to vary the .tension of the springil, which effects suicient pressure against the disconnector to maintain it in any adjusted position and to overcome the actionof the aforementioned spring 25. The spring 25 functions to retain the operating member I6 and the connector in their normal uppermost positions as shown in Fig. 2 in operative engagement with the needle bar frame and to return said parts to such uppermost position as the disconnector 28 is moved manually by the operator from the position illustrated in Fig. 3 to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, which movement releases the operating member from engagement bythe nger 32 and `permits the spring 25 to draw the operating member upwardly.

By this mechanism, the operator is enabled to start with a straight-line stitch, shifting instantly to a zigzag stitch, which can be carried to any extent desired, and then again shifting instantly to a straighteline stitch, as illustratedY in Fig. 9,v so that the line of zigzag stitching is securely locked at both ends and does not have to be anchored by a hand-tying operation, as is now the practice in shoe manufacture in certain operationswhere zigzag stitching is employed. In some cases, it may be desirable to have the straight-line stitching at the upper edge of the zigzag stitch, as illustrated in Fig. 9, and in other cases at the lower edge thereof, as illustrated in Fig. l0, and this selective arrangement is made possible by Aadjustable means that determines the positionY of the needle barframe while stationary.

Referring to Fig. 6, athreaded opening 39 is provided at each side of the pocket or recess 23, and 40 designates a stop member in lthe form of a threaded pin that can be selectively positioned in either opening 39. The stop member 40 contacts the interlocking portion or pin.24 on the needle bar frame, as shown in Fig. 3, and moves the latter in one direction only', as far as itwill go, during the reciprocating movement of the operating member. Thus when the stop member 49 is positioned to the left of the-recess 23, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, it moves the needle bar frame to the right and permits it to remain Vin its extreme right-hand position, causing the straight-line stitching to be located at the upper edge of the zigzag stitch, referring to Fig. 9, and if the operator desires to have the straight-line stitching at the opposite edge of the'zigzag stitch, as illustrated in Fig. l0, he needfonlyremove-the stop pin .0 .from.theJopeningshown' in Figs. v3

and 6 and secure it in the opening-on the other'Y `its stationary position.

`side of the recess 23, whereupon when the operating member is shifted to its lowermost or disengaged position, the stop member 40 will move the needle bar frame to its extreme left-hand position,v where it remains while stationary.

When the disconnector is operated to disengage the operating member from the needle bar frame,

`the spring I4, see Fig. 4, acting on the guide plate ,reciprocated back` and forth toward and `away from the interlocking portion 24 of the needle `bar frame while the latter remains stationary.

`With this construction, the needle bar and the operating member for the needle bar frame are continuously operated, and the operator, by merely swinging the disconnector 28, can disengage the operating member from the needle bar frame at will, without interrupting the move- `ment of the needle bar, which functions to produce a' straight-line stitch while the operating member is disconnected from the needle bar `frame and uninterruptedly produces a zigzag stitch continuing from the straight-line stitch when the operating member is engaged with the` needle bar frame. Thus the conventional zigzag stitch can be securely anchored at one or both `ends by a straight-line stitch of any desired length, and without requiring stoppage of the machine or slowing up of the operation.

While the invention has been described with reference .to the structural details herein disclosed, it is not confined to this particular embodiment, and the application is intended to cover any modifications or departures coming within the purposes of the invention or the scope of the following claims. i

I claim: f t

l; In a sewing machine adapted for making a zigzag stitch, the combination with a reciprocatory needle bar and a needle bar frame in which the needle bar is mounted, of a reciprocating operating member associated with the needle bar `frame and acting to move the latter back and tory needle bar and a needle bar frame in wl'iicl'i` the needle bar is mounted, an interlocking member on the needle bar frame, of a reciprocating operating `member having a recess in its upper edge` and movable upwardly to bring said recess into engagement with the interlocking member, means acting to hold the reciprocating operating member in its uppermost position, and manually operable means engageable with the reciprocating operating member and acting when operated to discharge it from the interlocking member.

43. In a sewing machine adapted for making a zigzag stitch, the combination with a reciprocatory needle bar and a needle bar frame in which the needle bar is mounted, an interlocking member on the needle bar frame, of a reciprocating operating member having a recess in its upper ledge and `movable upwardly to bring said recess into engagement with the interlocking member,

,the -said reciprocating operating member being movable vdownwardly to disengage it lfrom the interlocking member, and spring means acting `to holdmthe reciprocating operating member in its uppermost position.

4. In a sewing machine adapted for making a zigzag stitch, the combination with a reciprocatory needle bar and a needle bar frame in which Vthe needle bar is mountedof a reciprocating operating member that is movable into engagement with the needle bar frame for shifting the same 4back and forth to produce a zigzag stitch and is vmovable out of engagement with the needle bar frame to permit the latter to remain stationary for producing a straight-line stitch, and a disconnector that is movable into engagement with said operating member and operable to shift the same out of engagement with the needle` bar frame. i

. 5. In a sewing machine adapted for making a zigzag stitch, the combination with a, reciprocatory needle bar and a needle lbar frame in which the needle bar is mounted, of a reciprocating operating member that is movable into engagement with the needle bar frame for shifting the same back and forth to produce a zigzag stitch and is movable out of engagement with the needle bar frame to permit the latter to remain stationary for producing a straight-line stitch, spring means associated with the operating member and acting to hold it in engagement with the needle bar frame, and a disconnector that is movable into engagement with the operating member and operable to shift the latter out of engagement with the needle bar frame.

6. In a sewing machine adapted for making a zigzag stitch, the combination with a reciprocatory needle bar and a needle bar frame in which the needle bar is mounted, of an interlocking portion carriedby the needle bar frame, a reciprocating operating member, a connector carried by said operating member and having a recess engageable with said interlocking portion, and a `disconnector movable to engage said connector to move the latter and disengage it from the needle bar frame.

'7. In a sewing machine adapted for making a zig-zag stitch, the combination with a reciprocatory needle bar and a needle bar frame in which the needle bar is mounted, of an interlocking portion carried by the needle bar frame, a reciprocating operating member, a connector carried by said operating member and having a recess engageable with said interlocking portion, said operating member and connector being adjustable into or out of engagement with said interlocking portion, spring means associated with said connector and acting to hold it normally in engagement with said interlocking portion, and a disconnector engageable with the connector and movable to disengage it from said interlocking portion. t

8. In a sewing machine adapted for making a zigzag stitch, the combination with va reciprotion,'spring means associated with said connec- 4tor'and acting to hold it normally in engagement with the interlocking portion, a disconnector engageable with said connector and opera- -ble'to move the latter and disengage it from said interlocking portion, and spring means acting to hold the disconnector fri-ctionally in the position to which it is moved.

9. In a sewing machine adapted for making af'zigzag stitch, the combination with a reciprocatory needle bar and a needle bar frame in which the needle bar is mounted, of an interlocking portion carried by the needle bar frame, a reciprocating operating member, a connector carried at one end of said operating member and having a recess engageable with 'said Vinterlocking portion, said end of the operating' member being adjustable vertically to engage and disengage the connector with said interlocking portion, spring means associated with said connector and acting to hold it normally in engagement with the interlocking portion, a disconnector engageable with said connector and operable to move the latter and disengage it from said interlocking portion, spring means acting to hold the disconnector frictionally in the position to which it is moved, and means advjustably positionable on said connector and arranged to contact a part of the needle bar frame when the connector is disengaged therefrom to determine the position of the needle bar frame andv needle bar with relation to the zigzag stitch when making a straight-line stitch.

10. In a sewing machine adapted for making a zigzag stitch, the combination rwith a reciprocatory needle bar and a needle bar frame in which the needle barl is mounted, of an interlocking portion carried by the needle bar frame, a reciprocating operating member, a connector carried by said operating member and including a depending portion secured to one side of the operating member and a top portion overlying theoperating member and having an upper surface terminating in a recess engageable with said interlocking portion, a disconnector comprising a plate pivotally mounted forwardly of said operating member and having a rearwardly extending finger projecting over said connector and engageable with the top surface thereof, said` disconnector being pivotally mounted and shiftable to move said nger downwardly and thereby depress said connector, a spring associated with said connector and acting normally to hold it in engagement with said interlocking portion, and spring means acting to maintain said disconnector frictionally in the position to which it is adjusted.

ill. In a sewing machine adapted for making a zigzag stitch, the combination with a reciprocatory needle bar and a needle bar frame in which the needle bar is mounted, of an interlocking portion carried by the needle bar frame, a 'reciprocating operating member, a connector carried by said operating member and including a depending portion secured to one side of theloperating member and a top portionoverlying the operating member and having an upper surface terminating in a recess engageablewith said interlocking portion, a disconnector comprising a plate pivotally mounted forwardly of and engageable with the top surface thereof,

'said connector being pivotally mounted and Vshiftable to move said nger downwardly and Ythereby depress said connector, a spring assolciated with said connector and acting normally to hold it in engagement with said interlocking portion, spring means acting to maintain said disconnector frictionally in the position to which it is adjusted, and a stop selectively positionable on said connector on either side of the aforementioned recess and arranged to engage said interlocking portion and determine the position of the needle bar frame and needle bar when the connector is disengaged from said interlocking portion and thereby to select the position of the straight-line stitch relatively to the zigzag stitch.

12. In a sewing machine adapted for making a zigzag stitch, the combination with a reciprocatory needle bar and a needle bar frame in which the needle bar is mounted, of an operating member associated with the needle bar frame and acting to move the latter back and lforth to produce a zigzag stitch, devices operable to disengage said operating member from the needle bar frame to permit the latter to remain stationary for making a straight-line stitch, and means adjustable positionable on the operating member and arranged to contact a portion of the-needle bar frame and determine its position relatively t0 the zigzag stitch while stationary.

13. In a sewing'machine adapted for making a zigzag stitch, the combination with a reciprocatory needle bar and a needle bar frame in which the needle bar is mounted, of a reciproeating operating member that is movable into engagement with the needle bar frame for shifting the same back and forth to produce a zigzag stitch and is movable out of engagement with the needle bar frame to permit the latter to remain stationary for producing a straight-line stitch, a disconnector that is movable into engagement with said operating member and operable to shift the same out of engagement with the needle bar frame, and means adjustable positionable on the operating member and. arranged to contact a portion of the needle bar frame and determine its position relatively to the zigzag stitch while stationary.

14. In a sewing machine adapted for making a zigzag stitch, the combination with a reciprocatory needle bar and a needle bar frame in which the needle bar is mounted, of an interlocking portion carried by the needle bar frame, a reciprocating operating member, a connector carried by said operating member and having a recess engageable with said interlocking portion, a disconnector movable to engage said connector to move the latter and disengage it from the needle bar frame, and a stop selectively positionable on said connector on either side of the aforementioned recess and arranged to engage said interlocking portion and determine the position of the needle bar frame and needle bar when the connector is disengaged from said interlocking portion and therebby to select the position of the straight-line stitch relatively to the zigzag stitch.

JOI-IN G. GERBER. 

